The Controversy Over Controversial Art

We should all be concerned over the implications of the artistic censorship described in Allan Parachini’s June 14 article “Endowment, Congressmen Feud Over Provocative Art.” Apparently, a prestigious private art gallery--the Corcoran--was persuaded to cancel an art exhibition of controversial works because of the objections of some fundamentalists and members of Congress and the resulting threat to government subsidy.

We tend to take for granted our current broad rights of freedom of speech. However, it was only 65 years ago that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld 20-year criminal convictions merely for handing out political (communist) flyers. Today that concept seems abhorrent; but are we slowly chipping away at our freedom of speech? Perhaps it starts with art; movies (“The Last Temptation of Christ”); books (Salman Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses”); Planned Parenthood education. . . .

KENNETH A. GOLDMAN

Beverly Hills